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Big Sky Resort ski resort
Ikon PassView resortsMountain CollectiveView resorts
Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar

📷 Big Sky Resort

North America

Big Sky Resort

Closed for the season

Season ended April 12, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:00 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 12

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

0cm

Past 48 Hours

0cm

Past 10 Days

0cm

14-Day Forecast

0.7cm

Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

7

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 9:00 AM•Weather at base: 2073m

Overview

Big Sky Resort is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 12, 2026). The 14-day ensemble forecast across seven weather models (ECMWF, GFS, GEM, JMA, ICON, Météo-France, Met Norway) calls for ~1 cm (0.4 in) of new snow. Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 09:00 UTC.

Resort Guide

Big Sky Resort is located in southwestern Montana and features over 5,800 skiable acres across four connected mountains, offering a diverse range of terrain for all ability levels. The resort is known for its expansive slopes, minimal lift lines, and the iconic Lone Peak, which provides advanced and expert skiers with challenging descents and panoramic views. Guests can enjoy a modern base village with lodging, dining, and spa amenities, as well as a variety of winter activities including snowshoeing and ziplining. Big Sky stands out for its vast open spaces, reliable snowfall, and a blend of adventure and comfort in a scenic alpine setting.

Resort Info

Summit3404m
Base2073m
Vertical1331m
Lifts40
Runs320
Skiable Area5850 acres
Average snowfall400 inches / 1016 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedApril 12, 2026
Projected openingNovember 28, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Ikon Pass

Ikon Pass

View resorts →
Mountain Collective

Mountain Collective

View resorts →

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Whiskey Jack's – A popular après-ski spot at the base of Big Sky Resort, Whiskey Jack's is known for its welcoming atmosphere, live music, hearty pub fare, and a wide selection of local beers, making it a favorite gathering place for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

3404mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM

0cm
24h
1cm
Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
Prev10d
—
Now28
—
S29
—
S30
—
M31
—
T1
—
W2
—
T3
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Northern Rockies & Canadian Rockies region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 09:00 AM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • SNOTELMid 0cm

The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.

Base

2073m

Temp

16.5°C

Wind

4.9km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.3cm

Mid-Mountain

2739m

Temp

12.2°C

Wind

4.9km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.4cm

Summit

3404m

Temp

7.9°C

Wind

4.9km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0.3cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Big Sky Resort El Niño rank & forecast

Big Sky Resort ranks #283 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier D, −5% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar: Often a bit lighter early (−3% to −8% vs normal). History favors waiting for peak-depth months (often Feb–Mar) rather than skipping the resort.

#283 of 488Tier D — Late bloomer — aim Feb–Mar

Strong-event signal: −5% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Big Sky averaged -5% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Not a warning — a scheduling note. El Niño winters here tend to start slower and reward the late-winter core, when the base peaks and the El Niño headlines have pushed the crowds elsewhere. Aim February–March for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -20%, '15-16 -24%, '23-24 +28%.

'97-98 −20%'15-16 −24%'23-24 +28%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Big Sky Resort Webcams

All Webcams

Big Sky Resort

Big Sky Resort

Big Sky Resort

3 webcams • Click to expand

Snow Stake Cams

All Snow Stake Cams

Big Sky Resort

Big Sky Resort

2 snow stake cams • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Big Sky Resort (rockies), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 28, 9:00 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
11 / 41.9mm
Sat, Aug 29
11 / 10.1cm3.4mm
Sun, Aug 30
9 / -12.6cm4.9mm
Mon, Aug 31
11 / 0
Tue, Sep 1
12 / 20.3mm
Wed, Sep 2
10 / 3
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000.10.402.2000000000
Precip (mm)0.60.60.701.32.10.90.83.200000.30000
Temp (°C)797592172511461146105
Wind (km/h)8956166717561147148122412
Gusts (km/h)273325214627365231234426446350496957

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (3404m)

ECMWF
0.6cm
GFS
0cm
GEM
0cm
JMA
2.3cm
ICON
0cm
Météo-Fr
0cm
SnowSure™
0.7cm

10-Day Forecast

Today

28

🌧️

11°

3.6°

10 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

10.8°

0.6°

18 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

8.5°

-1.3°

19 km/h

Mon

31

☀️

11.4°

0.2°

12 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

12.3°

1.7°

23 km/h

Wed

2

☁️

10.2°

2.6°

25 km/h

Thu

3

☁️

12.6°

2.4°

20 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

11°

3.7°

24 km/h

Sat

5

❄️

5.3°

-0.9°

0.6cm

16 km/h

Sun

6

☁️

5.7°

-4.8°

10 km/h

Summit elevation (3404m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

Off-season — no rating published

Gallatin NF Avalanche Center

Watch for signs of unstable snow such as recent avalanches, cracking in the snow, and audible collapsing. Avoid traveling on or under similar slopes.

Read the official bulletin ↗

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:00 AM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

—

vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 247cm full-season avg

—

vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 228cm full-season avg

247cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~214.9 cm. That's 13% below the 5-year average (247 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 6% below the 30-year average (228 cm).

Big Sky Resort Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 328cm with an average of 145 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November33.8cm15 days21cm34cm7.8cm
December35.5cm19 days45cm61cm7cm
January31.7cm19 days65cm77cm6.2cm
February36.5cm18 days80cm91cm6.8cm
March43cm20 days87cm101cm8.7cm
April54.9cm19 days93cm107cm11cm
May36.8cm13 days66cm98cm10.3cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Nov 28, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Big Sky Resort, ERA5 season snowfall median was 277 cm (109 in), about 10% below this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

277 cm

10 El Niño winters · 10% below median

All-season median

306 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10277 cm259 cm – 391 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12330 cm271 cm – 375 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8323 cm254 cm – 405 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

February

Peak Season

January

Peak Season

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Big Sky Resort

Where is Big Sky Resort?
Big Sky Resort is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Big Sky Resort?
Big Sky Resort runs from a base elevation of 2,073 m (6,801 ft) to a summit of 3,404 m (11,168 ft), giving a vertical drop of 1,331 m (4,367 ft).
How big is Big Sky Resort?
Big Sky Resort has 5,850 acres (2,367 hectares) of skiable terrain, 320 marked runs and 40 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Big Sky Resort?
Big Sky Resort is on the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Big Sky Resort?
Big Sky Resort typically operates from November to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Big Sky Resort get in a typical season?
Big Sky Resort averages 400 inches / 1016 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Big Sky Resort in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #283 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier D · strong-event signal -5% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Big Sky averaged -5% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Not a warning — a scheduling note. El Niño winters here tend to start slower and reward the late-winter core, when the base peaks and the El Niño headlines have pushed the crowds elsewhere. Aim February–March for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -20%, '15-16 -24%, '23-24 +28%.